Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-08-10
RumOrs Of War.


neither shall they learn war any MORE -
Many hearts have sighed for it's dawning.
and a grooming earth waits impatiently for
its advent. We are not a little surprised at
the tone in which most writers for the press
now refer to the possibilities of great ma
tional conflicts. The chances of war be-
tween France and Germany are discussed
with little more seriousness than if it were
an impending review; and some in wider
utlook, treat of an array in which all Eu-
rope shall be involved, with a fiippancy
which seems to take no thought of the blood
and treasure to be poured out in such a con-
test.
This seeming heartlessness does not spring
from ignorance of the cost of war. In our
own time we have had q bitter experience
On American soil Of the outlay involved in
the shock of hostile armies. The late civil
war carried to the grave over six hundred
thousand men, and cost over six thousand
million dollars. This vast sum, if careful
ly divided, would give handsome home
stead to every family in the United States
A house and ground enough to cultivate
for all necessary food could be given with
out inconvenience to every family, North
| and South, for the money spent in this cruel
conflict.
| The older struggles in Europe besides the
| bloody sacrifice demanded have impoverish-
| ed the nations. Over twenty Thousand mil
| lion dollars of public debt now hang like a
milestone about the neck of productive in
dustry in consequence of these wasting
! wals. Over nine hundred million dollars
/ are now paid in annual interest On this
sunken treasure. The ordinary taxes would
be comparatively light if it were not for
the burden left by wars already past and
the heavier weights imposed by the constant
preparation FOR possible or expected STRIFE
| For years Europe has been y vast military
| camp. The leading continental nations are
drilling all their available force in the arts
of war, until nearly tweaty millions of the
people are trained soldiers. OF these up
ward Of four millions are now actually I'M
der arms, literally sleeping by their guns,
ready for instant march; and three hundred
thousand more are in service on board OF
| vessels Of war. The annual cost Of support
ing and supplying this vast army and navy
is about four thousand million dollars. So
that the best and ablest of the people in the
very Prime of life are not only taken from
industrial pursuits where they might add
by their labor and thrift TO the material re-
sources OF the community, but they are liv-
ing in idleness, as far as production goes,
and are supported BY a crushing tax on the
labor OF tie country.
These immense establishments, support
ed at such an enormous expense in times OF
| peace, are frightful instruments of waste
and consequent impoverishment the mo-
ment they are thrown into hostile coils ion.
| To support u modern army in the field re.
quires such vast outlay that the estimates
ale absolutely appalling. And yet the
means must be furnished If the war is to 90
| on, no matter how absolute is the ruin in
which it involves the contsnding nation
| Not alone the thousands who perish on the
bloody field, nor the greater number who
| die in the after agony OF the hospital,
OR who carry the seeds of diseese to Tipen
into premature decay at their homes, re-
present the chief sacrifice of a people laid
on the affairs of Mars. The straining sim
ews, the long hours of toll, the scanty fare,
| the blighted life from oppressive burdens
| laid by the State on shoulders already
weary, are sometimes harder to bear than
mortal wounds, or grief at the loss of loved
ones slain in the conflict.
| And this is what is meant by war, the
| chances of which are spoken of so glibly,
and with such apparent unconcern for the
issue, by many who sum up for US the news
of the day. It would not be trivial mat
ter if it were only a tournament where but
score or two of trained warriors wers to
meet in deadly strife. But where whole
| nations are to face each other in hostile ar
ray, with millions Of men in the field, and
with all the waste and desolatiQn and cruel
suffering that this most surely involve, it
seems to us that no oae with heart that
can be touched with human misery can fail
to speak of it, if at all, with bated breath
and III the hope that It may net be realized.
Blessed are the peacemakers, and every
voice that can soothe the angry passions of
men will have share in this benediction.-
N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.